GIVE THE AXE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does give the axe mean? 

• GIVE THE AXE (verb)
  The verb GIVE THE AXE has 2 senses:

1. terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position

2. terminate a relationship abruptly

  Familiarity information: GIVE THE AXE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GIVE THE AXE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

can; dismiss; displace; fire; force out; give notice; give the axe; give the sack; sack; send away; terminate

Context example:

The company terminated 25% of its workers

Hypernyms (to "give the axe" is one way to...):

remove (remove from a position or an office)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give the axe"):

retire (make (someone) retire)

pension off (let go from employment with an attractive pension)

clean out (force out)

furlough; lay off (dismiss, usually for economic reasons)

squeeze out (force out)

dismiss; drop; send away; send packing (stop associating with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sense 2

Meaning:

Terminate a relationship abruptly

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

give the axe; give the bounce; give the gate

Context example:

Mary gave John the axe after she saw him with another woman

Hypernyms (to "give the axe" is one way to...):

break; break up; part; separate; split; split up (discontinue an association or relation; go different ways)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody something